Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time 19th February 2023
Anniversary & Month’s Mind Masses
Mass will be offered for the following people on the occasion of an Anniversary or Month’s Mind. We remember them, their families and loved ones in our prayers.
Sunday 19th February 10.00am Jack Muldoon
Sunday 19th February 12.00Noon Margaret & Annie Healy
Monday 20th February 7.30pm Gretta Sweeney
Tuesday 21st February 7.30pm Bridget Duffy
Thursday 23rd February 10.00am Christopher Hegarty
Thursday 23rd February 7.30pm Rose Harkin
Friday 24th February 7.30pm Rosaleen Conaghan
Saturday 25th February 6.00pm Lawrence O’Reilly
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Evelyn Valley- Sevenoaks Nursing Home, Tony Horner- Summer Hill, Prehen, Sharon Wallace- Ravenswood Park, Prehen.
Baptisms: We welcome into the family of God; Marilyn Wilson, Niamh Stevenson, Charlie McKinney-O’Hagan, Harper Deehan & Shea McLaughlin
To book a Baptism, please contact the parish office for dates.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £2237.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £748.00
Parish Office: You can contact the Parish Office by Phone on 028-71262301 or via email longtower@derrydiocese.org.
Visitation of the Sick. For urgent sick calls please contact the parish office on 028-71262301 or 02871262894.
‘GOD CLUB’ – Teenagers exploring their faith…Aras Colmcille (beside Long Tower church), Saturday mornings, 10.30am. All teenagers welcome!
‘Casting a Long Shadow’ is a book charting the People’s History of the Long Tower Church. On sale in Aras Cholmcille or from Long Tower Parish Office. Cost £20.00.
Walk with Me – A Journey of Prayer for Lent 2023. The booklets are available from Parish Office or Jim Doherty, cost £1.00. These booklets are a useful prayer format for the Holy season of Lent.
Diocesan Vocations: Anyone interested in serving the Church as a priest of the diocese of Derry should contact the diocesan Vocations Director, Fr Pat O’Hagan PP Bellaghy and Greenlough, at (028) 7938 6259 or at pgoh2111@gmail.com
Cemetery Sunday: The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead will take place in the City Cemetery on Sunday, 25 June 2023 at 3.00 pm.
Long Tower Parish- Lenten Schedule 2023
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 22nd February 2023
Ash Wednesday – A day of fast and abstinence – Catholics are asked to eat a maximum of one main meal and two collations (light meals) and to abstain from meat.
Ashes will be blessed at the 7.00am Mass and distributed at the 7.00am, 10.00am and 7.30pm Masses. Please note that ashes will not be distributed at any other times and not from the Parochial House.
The Holy Land Collection will be taken up at all Masses on Ash Wednesday.
There will be a 7.00am Mass in Long Tower Church, on Monday, Wednesday & Fridays during the season of Lent, beginning Ash Wednesday 22nd February and ending on Wednesday 5th April, Holy Week.
Friday Penance during Lent: (i) make a special effort at family prayer (ii) make the Stations of the Cross (iii) do something to help the poor, sick or lonely (iv) make a special effort to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (v) abstain from meat or some other food.
Schedule for Stations of the Cross During Lent:
Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Monday & Friday before Evening Mass at 7.00pm. Confessions on those days will be at 6.30pm.
Lenten Healing Service on Sundays at 6.00pm during the season of Lent, beginning Sunday 26th February.
Divine Mercy & Rosary:
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy & Rosary will be recited in Long Tower Church, Monday- Friday at 3.00pm during the season of Lent.
Short Term Alcohol Free Promise for Lent:
During Lent we always try to engage in extra PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING. Last year quite a number of parishioners promised to stay off alcohol as an act of FASTING and we hope that this will happen again in 2023. If you choose to give up alcohol we ask you to sign up to this FAST in the Sacristy or in the Parish Office and to wear the special badge we have made to signify our commitment to forego alcohol for the 40 days of LENT. The suggested offering to pay for the badge is £2.00.
Walk with Me – A Journey of Prayer for Lent 2023:
A few remaining booklets are available from Parish Office or from Jim Doherty at Church, cost £1.00. These booklets are a useful prayer format for the Holy season of Lent.
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 2023:
‘Together For A Just world for 50 Years’. Since 1973, your compassion and generosity have been an enduring source of inspiration and support in the fight against poverty and injustice. With your support we will continue to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and respond to the crises they create, continuing to support the world’s most at risk communities, no matter who or where they are. For the past 50 years and the next 50, Thank You. Trocaire boxes are available at back of the Church, please take one.
The Long Tower Parish recognises and upholds the dignity and rights of all children and is committed to ensuring their safety and wellbeing. We are committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church and recognise that we also have a special responsibility towards all vulnerable people who are members of our faith community. Our Parish Safe-Guarding Representatives are Mrs Rita Moore and Ms Josephine Brown. If you have any concerns with regard to Safeguarding children or adults in need of protection within the Church please contact Marie Gormley, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) Tel: NI 075 96500 793 / ROI (0044) 75 96500 793 or at mariegormley@derrydiocese.org. Additional contact numbers: N Ireland PSNI: 101 or Social Services WHSCT Tel +442871314090 (Ask for Duty Social Worker).
Diocesan Pioneer Council; Masses will be offered in the following churches in each of the four deaneries, during the Lenten season. They will highlight the virtue of Temperence, focusing on the Pioneer promises of moderation in all things, particularly in the use of alcohol. St. Mary’s Church, Creggan, Tuesday 28th February at 7.30pm, St. John the Baptist Church, Swatragh, Saturday 11th March at 12.00 noon, Church of the Sacred Heart, Carndonagh, Tuesday 14th March at 7.00pm, Church of the Sacred Heart, Omagh, Monday 20th March at 7.30pm. All, especially Pioneers, are invited to attend these Masses.
Calling all past Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Leaders and Committee members to help us celebrate 50 years of Scouting. We are having a Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Sunday, 26th February at 12.30pm. Tea and light refreshments afterwards in the Cathedral Hall.
RTÉ will broadcast Mass on Sunday 19 February 2023 at 11am to mark Temperance Sunday 2023. Prayers will be offered for all who are in treatment for addiction and for those who are in recovery. The Offertory Hymn composed by Ephrem Feeley is a new arrangement of the Serenity Prayer.
The Columba Community’s next Healing Mass at Columba House, 11 Queen St, Derry will be held on Thursday 23rd February at 7.30pm. Holy Mass will be celebrated by Fr Michael Sweeney followed by individual prayer for healing with blessed oil. All Welcome.
This year’s Worldwide Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse will take place on 24th February the first Friday of Lent. The Day of Prayer is an initiative of Pope Francis and was first marked in Irish dioceses in 2017. Blessed candles will be lit in parishes across the country as a reminder to the faithful of the need for atonement and to symbolise repentance; light in the darkness and hope. These ‘Candles of Atonement’ will be lit in diocesan cathedrals and churches on the Day of Prayer, and thereafter during the celebration of Mass and other liturgies.
Accord NI Catholic Marriage Care Service is recruiting Marriage Education Facilitators to provide Sacramental Marriage Preparation for couples in your diocese. We are seeking individuals who are good communicators and have an enthusiasm for supporting couples as they prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage and future family life. This is an opportunity to formally train within a supportive, nurturing and inspiring community. In 2022, our teams helped 2,140 couples to develop good communication skills, manage conflict and understand the responsibility and significance of the Sacrament of Marriage. For further details and an application form, please contact Brenda at 028 9023 3002 or email info@accordni.com
Mary’s Meals – Syria Earthquake Appeal:- We invite you to join us in prayer for those affected by the two devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and for the success of emergency response efforts. Mary’s Meals have now launched an emergency appeal to provide urgent support for children and vulnerable adults in and around Aleppo who are in desperate need. To find out more or donate, please visit www.marysmeals.org.uk or call us for free on 0800 6981212.
St Angela’s College, Sligo, is inviting applications for the following programme beginning Autumn 2023 Part-Time Certificate in Religious Education (Primary) with Online Delivery The programme is open to: Qualified primary school teachers; Qualified post-primary school teachers who wish to transfer to primary school teaching. Parents, sacramental preparation teams and parish catechists who have a specific interest in the area of primary religious education may also apply. Closing date for Applications is Monday, 12th June 2023. This date may be extended. For further information contact Mary Kearns, Senior Administrator, St. Angela’s College, Lough Gill, Sligo, email mkearns@stangelas.ie or visit Website: www.stangelas.ie
Rally For Life – Please join us and be a voice for the voiceless unborn child as we march for life on Saturday 11th March 2023 gathering in Custom House Square, Belfast, at 2pm. Buses to the Rally leaving from various locations. For further information please contact Precious Life on 07592280522 / 02890278484 / email info@preciouslife.com.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
